Studies on culture conditions of benthic diatoms for feeding abalone

Effects of iron and silicon nutrients and of orthogonal combinations of nitrogen, phosphorus, iron and silicon on the growth rate of three benthic diatoms were studied by using an in situ OD measurement method. The results of monofactor tests of iron and silicon showed that Fe-EDTA was better than ferric citrate in the culture of these diatoms; that the favourable concentration of Fe-EDTA was about 0.5 mg/L of Fe and that of silicate was 2.5 mg/L of Si or more. The orthogonal test showed that the optimal concentration ratios (mg/L) of nitrogen, phosphorus, iron and silicon were: 5.0: 0.25: 0.5: 2.0 forCocconeis scutellum var.parva; 2.5: 1.0: 1.0: 2.0 forAmphora coffeaeformis; and 5.0: 0.15: 0.5: 2.0 forN. mollis. Project 39470065 supported by NSFC.